Yuanzi's small eyes widened like quail eggs, her mouth forming an "O."
She really thought Xinyu's experience was too bizarre…
Xinyu glanced uneasily into the living room. Mu Yichuan didn't approach; confessing to Yuanzi was truly a last resort, and she was afraid of causing Yuanzi trouble.
"Yesterday, I'm sorry, I was just afraid…"
"Ayu!" Yuanzi gradually came to her senses and hugged Xinyu tightly. "Silly girl, we're best friends! You forgot!"
"How could I forget?!" Xinyu's eyes reddened. Seeing Yuanzi again was something she never imagined. Since the family tragedy, she had been alone for five or six years.
"So, what are you worried about?" Yuanzi's eyes also welled up with tears. "Afraid of dragging me down? Don't be silly, once I see you again, you won't abandon me again!"
"I won't!" Xinyu blurted out, then she and Yuanzi burst out laughing. "With someone sharing life with me, why wouldn't I be happy!"
"Tch!" Yuanzi wiped away Xinyu's tears. "Do you even need to struggle with life?"
The two glanced outside in unison, knowingly dropping the subject, deciding to discuss it further when they were alone.
"We can definitely find out!" Yuanzi murmured to Xinyu as she cooked.
Xinyu nodded vigorously. She firmly believed that after this period, when she returned to Nanshi and found Zhang Wan and Ai Heng, she might have some clues.
Mu Yichuan listened to the faint metallic clanging sounds from the kitchen, imagining Xinyu cooking, when his gaze inadvertently fell on the distorted pig's head on the table.
Her slender, pale fingers traced the restored porcelain jar; she had actually brought it out with her. It seemed fate truly did bring them together.
Looking around the utterly ordinary one-bedroom apartment again, she wondered why she would rather cram into this run-down place than live in the Nanlong Villa?
Was she really that resentful of being with him?!
Why?!
Could it be that he had mistreated her?!
When Xin Yu and Cheng Yuan came out with the food, they saw Mu Yichuan with a dark expression, his handsome features framed by tightly knit, thick brows.
Xin Yu's heart skipped a beat. Although she couldn't guess the reason, she could clearly sense his displeasure.
What had she done to offend him? Had she stayed at Yuanzi's place last night?
Even if she couldn't afford to offend him or avoid him, with the agreement in place, it was time to fight for her rights and freedom!
"What are you thinking about?" A magnetic, icy voice rang out, and Mu Yichuan raised an eyebrow, glancing at Xin Yu.
"N-nothing," Xin Yu said, setting the table. "Let's eat."
Seeing her clearly deep in thought, he kindly asked, but she kept dodging and avoiding his questions. He grew increasingly displeased, reaching out to pull her close. In his 27 years of life, when had he ever been treated like this?
"Woman, just say what you want to say. I don't like playing hard to get."
"You…" Xin Yu was startled by Mu Yichuan's sudden action. Her eyes darted to Yuanzi, who had entered the kitchen, and she used both hands to pry open his large hand.
Who's playing hard to get…?
It's him who's acting strangely, okay?
"Let go!" Xin Yu commanded, her dark eyes flashing with anger, then lowering them to conceal it. She said quickly in a low voice, "Let's talk back."
She thought Mu Yichuan would let go as he had before, but she never expected him to be so casual and shameless. He leaned down and kissed her eyes.
The cool touch, yet containing an intense heat, scalded Xin Yu's heart...
"Ugh..." Hearing Yuanzi gasp and retreat back into the kitchen, Xin Yu jumped away from Mu Yichuan as if electrocuted.
Oh God, her lifelong reputation, her pure innocence, ruined by this bastard!
"Not convinced?"